oatmeal for days

Posted on October 5, 2023 by Shanda

My cholesterol was a little high so I’ve taken to eating a nice bowl of steel cut oats in the morning. I microwave it to cook nice and creamy. The bowl has to be larger than you would think, or we have a spill-over. If that happens I tip the plate and scrape the oats back into the bowl because I don’t want to lose even a spoonful. Then I wash the plate again and put it back in the bottom of the microwave. If you use a larger bowl this won’t happen.

It takes about three minutes to cook the oats the way I like them. This morning I had the idea to drizzle orange juice on top, and a little dab of thick Greek yogurt, too. A sprinkle of salt. A good wholesome breakfast.

I vacuumed the car this morning. I found an extension cord in the big bin on the porch and used it to plug the vacuum cleaner into an outlet. I washed the mats and dried them in the hot sun. I wiped down the interior with wipes made for that purpose. My aunt is coming in a few hours and I am driving us to the cabin and wanted us to have a clean car to enjoy. It’s a beautiful morning, crickets singing, leaves blowing gently across the driveway in the wind. Blinding sunshine, colors in the trees, and this morning a thick misty fog.

I walked Rich to the car. The children had already left for school. It was just us! He looked so handsome and cute I had to take a photo before pretending I was a traffic director and pointing him out of the driveway to work.

Before taking a shower I took my things out to the front porch and did my Bible reading and Discipleship lesson for today. I read about Abraham and the men and women of those chapters dealing with God’s covenant to him, and promises so amazing that Abraham’s wife laughed to hear them. I had the front door open nearby and the cats came in and out as I sat and read and wrote and thought and looked at the sun begin to burn away the cloudy air.

Actually this cat caused two uproars this morning . He attacked poor Sherlock as he was napping innocently in my room, and then he attacked Sam who was sitting on top of my fiestaware hutch, causing things from my collection to fall along with a strand of lights, a vase, another vase, and a metal tin to fall with a crash as cats ran away in fear. It prompted me to list a set of tiny animal figurines to eBay as they were in the path of destruction and somehow survived unscathed. I also listed an old first edition book, and Ronald Weasley’s wand. I packed up an old cocoa tin to mail out. Took a shower, did some laundry because as you know, it never ends, and now am sitting cross legged in a big comfy chair, with Sam on one of my legs; she’s purring.

I started watching Netflix’s Snowpiercer last night and am going to make a fresh cuppa and finish it now.

Happiest of Thursdays to you my friends!

We are loved. I’ve lived many days, have seen the hand of God in each one, and have passed through the fire and I know it’s true.

*********

“If you want to understand God’s ways, go out and observe His handiwork….ask questions, search for answers…He will fill you with wonder and praise.” B. Schultz

for I was hungry….

Posted on September 28, 2023 by Shanda

Seth went grocery shopping with his dad the other day and bought Oreos and Nutty Buddies and all kinds of sugary snacks and then came home and ….. hid them from his sister! I know, shocking! And I get to hear all about it!

She got off the bus today and came in the house to continue the topic that began yesterday. “I was right, he DID hide them from me Mom, he was eating a Nutty Buddy on the bus this morning….he HID them, he hid the snacks from me, why……”. Her voice faded at she searched around the pantry for something to eat.

I watched as she searched and then “heard a prompting”——I thought to myself, “my poor daughter is hungry maybe she would like pancakes”. And so I said;

“You sound hungry. Can I make you pancakes?”

She stopped rummaging and looked around the door frame, “Pancakes? Fluffy ones? With chocolate chips? THANK YOU!!”

I got up off the couch and set to work. No milk? Thank goodness there was a can of evaporated milk in the pantry. Soon I was flipping golden circles and serving them with plenty of butter to a happy daughter sitting in a sunbeam. It was fun!

I thought about Jesus’ words in Matthew:

And I thought about the way we can notice each others’ needs and pains and struggles and how so often I might feel that prompting to “do something”.

Sometimes people are hungry but it’s not for bread. Sometimes people are thirsty, imprisoned, sick, and it’s not what first comes to our minds when we hear those words.

Sometimes an addiction is prison.

Sometimes grief is a sickness worse than Covid.

Sometimes people are thirsty to be noticed.

And people hunger to be known.

To be seen.

As we listen to the promptings to do something, anything, to lift the burden of a child, a friend, a neighbor, and we not only hear them but take action, we realize once again why Jesus tells us to love each other in these tangible ways. Not only does it count as doing something for Him, as if that wasn’t enough reason, in so doing, we also receive benefits. We are likewise lifted up, and our heart inclines…… to joy. And joy, that Divine, real joy, is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) Strength for today and tomorrow and all the days to come.

Let me give. Let me see. And let me be thankful for what is given so generously to me, as well.

Half a cup of blueberries and one raspberry

Posted on July 18, 2023 by Shanda

From New Hampshire

Good morning, I am writing to you from my small little art table upstairs in my bedroom in the cabin. Sarah is the only person here with me and she is still sleeping in the dark and quiet basement (finished), curled up in the top bed of the bunk bed, where it is so very nice and cool……..it’s as humid as can be this morning. Everything is covered in humidity outside and so was I, when I went for a little walk around. I saw people, flowers of all kinds, a daddy long legs, the lake, slugs, mushrooms of all kinds, charming lake homes, trees, crows, a male cardinal, and……

……and wild blueberries, of which I am quite acquainted with because I, along with my grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings, grew up surrounded by them. I suspect they are part of my genetic make up at this point. I’ve eaten them from hand, in jam, in pies, in coffee cakes, and my favorite; in muffins.

I said hello to the first bush I found about a week ago here right next to the dirt road that we walk from our cabin down to the lake. I said, “Hello, are you related to anyone in Afton, NY?” And this bush replied to me, “It’s possible, anything’s possible you know.” Then I asked if I could pick it’s ripe berries and it said “Please do, they itch me so, I’ve been waiting for berry lovers to come around and notice and you’re the first.” This is is all true. It was a small sized bush without many branches and I’ve been stopping by almost daily to pick what it had to offer. This morning, just an hour ago, I tied on my sneakers and set out for a quick jaunt. My friendly blueberry bush had a good 1/4 cup for me. I got every ripened one, and ate them, thinking of antioxidants and how each small berry had a slightly different taste and how amazing that was and……..

……and all of a sudden, I found three more small bushes right next to the road, this time on the left hand side. After proper introductions I proceeded to pick berries, oh and I also met the Daddy Long Legs Spider -quite handsome he was- but camera shy. I walked away again eating berries and thinking to myself of walking with a cup and making muffins.

(A mushroom interlude)

I was just about home when I found the one raspberry.

And so we pick what is good as we go about the day, taking what there is for us to gather, enjoying, thanking, smiling, knowing from Who’s hand every good thing comes. A thousand and a thousand good things— if we only have eyes to see we will then have a heart which is large and grateful.

**********

“May I remember the bright hours that found me,

Walking over the silent hills of my childhood,

Or dreaming on the margin of the quiet river,

When a light glowed within me,

And I promised my early God to have courage

Amid the tempests of the changing years.”

Max Ehrmann

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.  Genesis 1:31

grief is wild

Posted on July 6, 2023 by Shanda

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

Good morning friends, here I am, still in bed upstairs in the NH cabin. The windows are open, and a fan in the window is powerfully pushing in the cool air of this beautiful still new day. And don’t you just love a new day?

How are you? I pray these early summer days have been lovingly warm and comforting for your sweet souls. Love is what matters most. And love can be found anywhere thanks be to an everywhere at once God (Who literally IS love, 1 John 4:7) and His merciful ways……in the very act of living itself, in a pet, a purpose, community, Scripture, art, relationships. Giving, creating. Knowing. Being known. Alive. Awake.

For God so *loved*…..

In the beginning, God *created*…..

Take my yoke upon you and *learn of me*….

For the very hairs on your head are numbered and He knows each tear that falls from your eyes.

The very eyes that were once blind, but now can see. See beyond the surface, we are “far from the shallow now.” We are in deep where life is an continual feast.

If I stop and consider all the ways I am loved my cup is neither half empty nor half full—it’s overflowing from an endless rushing fountain. I happily stand, flooded by love on every side. My house on the Rock stands firm.

As Mother I find my strength in Love. Yes, I have ten children, but I know now that I would be a mother even with no children of my own. Quite simply, mothering is half of my one whole Purpose. And as such, I simply must spend time basking, bathing, being consumed, in and by the love of God. Remembering. Believing. Accepting. Receiving. Only in this way will my weaknesses become strength.

To Mothers and Lovers, (Lover-the second half of this “life purpose” of mine), to mothers and lovers, grief is wild. To live here on earth, in this world, is to suffer deeply from pain and loss. As I woke this morning I remembered times throughout my whole life when the anguish of loss was so great I had to go into the woods to scream and cry. My body took over and my mind was lost. In this way, grief is a very dark and frightening place. At times the Mothers and the Lovers have no one near enough to console them in their passionate grief. This is where we end, and the mystery takes over. Questions unanswerable like “why”, “how” . And we learn another truth; even unanswerable questions have their own deep magic. Things unseen. The very definition of Faith. The hope of that Someday, when we know fully the things we only know now in part.

Faith, and Hope, these unbreakable divine powers, are how we keep on keeping on.

But the greatest of these, is Love.

a word from the lake

Posted on July 3, 2023 by Shanda

We are in New Hampshire for a little bit, I arrived on Wednesday and Rich and the three youngest kids came on Thursday. I’ve been doing a lot of reading, thinking, watching tv, and spending time with the family and in the kitchen.

Life has been as full as ever. Dear Caleb goes off to college in August which bothers me very much because I will miss him and the time of raising him went by so sweetly and so quickly. He’s always been such a gentle captivating boy.

I made homemade rolls the other day and currently we have a cake cooling on the stovetop. Sarah mixed it up herself, and as it mixed she drew a heart with her finger on the bottom of the pan after she buttered it. She’s a dear soul. Neat and organized, an avid reader, and oh so fun and wise. She held my hand tightly as we waded into the lake together this afternoon. I did up her long blond hair in two French braids there, too.

The lake is beautiful. Of course it’s much different from the ocean on Jekyll Island, and I found myself alone there yesterday morning when I couldn’t sleep anymore. I walked to the edge and looked so far across, and saw the mountains. I waded into the chilly water with bare feet. What I noticed most of all was what the lake was saying; “Lap. Lap. Lap.” I thought of motherhood and all the times I had the children on my lap. I always loved having them so close. As a mother with a very deep mothers’ heart, I listened to the lake and felt a very deep connection. It spoke to me.

hot sauce

Posted on June 10, 2023 by Shanda

Dave has been gardening with me this year, he wants to make hot sauce so whenever I see hot pepper plants I buy them. These are from Tractor Supply and are jalapeño and habanero plants.

It’s very dry outside so I am doing a lot of watering.

It’s nice to be in this stage of life, I can keep up with my hobbies with less urgency and frustration.

Caleb graduated

Posted on June 9, 2023 by Shanda

I took a perfect picture

Posted on May 11, 2023 by Shanda

Quite by happenstance, I was on the phone with my dear daughter, child of my heart, who was visiting with a groundhog while we talked of many things and I also had a visitor, a little friendly chickadee. I put dear daughter on speaker so I could still listen as I used my phone to take a photo of the Friendly Bird and just as I took it……along came one more.

And the white trellis and the bleeding heart bush (I have a bleeding heart, I bet you do too, you know—one which is tender and aches for the lovely *and* the sad things). The rocks and everything in the photo, just right!

Meanwhile Grace was also snapping photos of her groundhog:

I was looking through my old scrapbooks and came across this quote:

“Sometimes I arrive just when God’s ready to have someone click the shutter.” (-Ansel Adams, professional photographer—famous for his black and white photos.)

Life can seem chaotic and random but it really isn’t. It’s orderly and full of purpose and meaning, if only we have the eyes to see. Applying our hearts to wisdom, we come to understand what a wondrous feast life is, and all that truly matters.

We click the shutter on a captured love-moment and in this way praise and thanksgiving becomes our daily song.

Wedding, continued

Posted on May 3, 2023 by Shanda

Rich is home safe and sound as of one o’clock today. Now my system can relax again. I just shut my door so I couldn’t hear Caleb announcing that “someone stole the power cord to my PS5”. I don’t know anything about it. I’m resting in bed and going to watch a little tv but first thought I would write a little here.

Today I went and helped out at a soup kitchen downtown at the church. It was joyous. Everyone had such personality and I do so love to observe. I was set to work on three huge metal bowls of fresh green beans—trimming them for the pot. It was green beans from my nightmares. Jill guessed about 30 pounds worth. I didn’t do it alone and I would probably never do it for a home-meal. Doesn’t that sound terrible. Now that I’ve become more accomplished at it, maybe I will. I used to love watching my Grandma or mom slice through a pile of green beans all lined up as best as they could be, in order to efficiently trim as many as possible in one swift cut of a large sharp knife. They are the gardeners that inspire me. Anyway, today we of the soup kitchen made large quantities of spaghetti and meatballs, tossed salad, fruit salad, and the beans. Hungry people come to the church to eat but most of the meals were packed in containers and delivered. I came away with some meals for the kids and when I was driving to the HS to get Caleb I took a turn and two of them spilled over into the trunk of my new car. So that was annoying (exciting) and I got a bucket of soapy water and cleaned it all up when I got home. I remembered when something like that would be “the straw that broke the camels back” in years past when I was stretched thin with all the children home and babies and toddlers and today was so thankful to realize that I could clean up this unexpected mess while remaining (be shocked) CALM, and even like sort of content and —rather enjoyed it! I carried the bucket back to the house and washed off the door and trim, too.

That was the major event of my day besides my husband coming back home. We had about four hours before he went to get Seth and Sarah from school and got subs for dinner.

Of note- I got myself gardening gloves and have been working on weeding and planting pansies, which I adore. My best -friend- cat Sammie found the gloves on the counter and as I was cleaning up the kitchen I noticed her writhing her face into them in pure ecstasy . “She acts like they’re catnip!” I said to David. “Do I have catnip out there??” I went outside with my handy dandy plant identification app and BEHOLD—discovered that we have big healthy clumps of it in the flower gardens and I just am so perplexed. Sammie figured it out. So that was fun, a fun story to tell Sarah when she got home. “So that’s why the cats eat that plant!” She said. “You’ve noticed them eating it?” I asked. “Yep!”

Isn’t daily life full of surprises? I never dreamed when I got up this morning that I would clean spaghetti out of my car and also discover catnip in the garden.

Here are some more promised wedding photos:

Sarah, Caleb, Jacob, Ethan, David, Seth, Grace

Me and one of my dearest friends Caroline who is Ethan’s “second mom”. (It takes a village)

That’s my parents dancing so close – how romantical!

It was obviously a day of LOVE.

Mother and Groom dance. And I brushed the tears off my dear son’s face. he loves his mama

Goodness so many photos!! This is me and my sister Amanda!

Me and my favorite brother Nathan! (Wink wink)

Dad was crying as we danced to “What a Wonderful World”

I shall leave you with the kiss.

The Kiss

The wedding kiss!

I should blog about the wedding

Posted on May 2, 2023 by Shanda

*Mr and Mrs*

(These first three photos curtesy of their photographer).

Ethan and Sierra were married on April 15 and then they went to Italy for their honeymoon.

I think there has been a part of my heart recovering since then!! It was an absolute dream wedding and beautiful in every way. To dance with my son, wiping his tears away as we were together in that priceless moment, seeing Sierra marry my son with her beloved Grandfather officiating, my children all dressed up and so glad for their brother, the food.. the music ..the smiles. It was enough to “spoil” me from every day life for a good many days. Just savoring the memories. breathing deep. Thankful.

Ethan is our third child to get married. Jacob and Brittnee are going to celebrate their second anniversary soon, and then Brogan and daughter Grace shortly after.

We were reading from the book of Acts on Sunday, verses about the early days of the church, and that simple yet glorious phrase “and the Lord added to their number…..” gave me pause—of course me being me at this time thought that certainly these words could be applied to family as well, a growing family in the next stage of life, marrying adult children and welcoming their life-partners as true and most definitely loved children, too. I feel so amazingly blessed, and so does my husband, that the two of us over the years have turned into a family of twelve. 1+1=7+1+1+1=12

We are somewhat calming down after the big event, yet how can we with this number? Rich is at this time away on a business trip and since he rarely goes away anymore I can’t sleep very well without him. I woke up at three and couldn’t get back to sleep until after 4. I even went upstairs to make sure David didn’t oversleep for his Fed Ex shift. I woke him from a sound sleep and he was so kind about it, “my alarm is literally set to go off in one minute…..” which to me was pretty amazing that I had that sense. Obviously he needs no alarm with this kind of mother. I went to bed and read my book and then even though I didn’t want to I made myself sleep some more and the dreams, I’ll tell you, were vivid and strange. For example, I almost bought a medium green very rare and large fiestaware platter but by the time I got off the bus it had been sold for 50 dollars, in my dream I said “I would have given you 100”, etc and so on. I woke up for real at about 7 and when I reached for my phone I knocked the remote off my bed and it went underneath it. In my sleep drunken state the only thing I knew was “I dropped something I need to pick it up” therefore I started my day squeezing under the bed on one side and then the other, pulling things out and getting dusty to the point that I asked myself “am I just still dreaming” but there….I finally found it. I have since accomplished my morning routine of bedtime coffee and YouTube (Crazy Lamp Lady).

Then I went out and fed all five cats their daily cans of fancy feast. Perfect attendance is rare for my little cat family as there are some concerning animosities among them.

I proceeded to then take all my bird feeders (full of feed and suet cakes) off the table and back out into the bushes by the living room window because some large animal has been knocking them down in the night. As Aunt Colleen says “it’s quite exciting” which was nice because all I had felt was “annoyed”. Wouldn’t it be so much better to face life’s little challenges as exciting rather than annoying?

Speaking of….my children have been annoying my aura…..in other words -I have also been annoying as much or more than they have been. So I bit the bullet and took the four of them out to the mall yesterday after school and by the time we had car rides, shopping and pizza (Ethan joined) and more shopping we had reunited as a nice ( it annoying) little family again. We got home and had two hours of congenial family time; Dave even made another bowl of his famous guacamole while I read magazines with a cat on my lap.

Well I gather you’re here, dear blog friend, for the wedding photos…….enjoy!